Clever, wise, and spiritual—such is the advice of John Newton in this 15th of 41 letters on religious subjects. The abridged paraphrase below keeps paragraphs corresponding to the original letter.
“The Four-Volume Set of Books Indispensable for Any Christian”
1. So many are ignorant and confused about Christianity because they devour too many books. To keep one’s head straight as an avid reader is not easy, especially for novices. Even if one does not go astray, one gets little more than a soon-forgotten acquaintance with many errors.
2. Not that I would discourage reading! A few books, well-chosen, carefully read, and thoroughly digested, are very helpful. But to aim for quantity over quality is not good, being likely to confuse, waste time, and impoverish you by living off others’ deep meditations instead of your own.
3. The Christian publishing world suffers from a glut of unworthy titles. Many are quite well-known, being recommended by big names and countless positive reviews of nobodies. These books probably mislead readers more than leading them to true peace and wisdom.
4. Even in books more scriptural, there are often many blots that potentially harm the spiritual life of all but the most discerning. Many have no objectivity as critical thinkers when reading their favorite author.
5. Granting the legitimacy of books used in the right way, I still say there is a better path to true knowledge. My method is so important that neglecting it ruins everything else you might try, while using it prayerfully is not only a straight line to wisdom, but doubles the value of every other sensible effort to grow spiritually.
6. If I may speak metaphorically, God has given us a four-volume set of books with the most important information for us spiritually. It is just what we need with our limited capacity, brief lives, and various callings. The first volume is inexpensive, portable, and comprehensive yet fairly brief. Nearly anyone in our country can get one without much effort or trouble. The other three volumes are always with us, and the best commentaries on the first.
7. You have surely guessed that the first volume is the Bible—an infallible system of truth with its own evidence of being God’s Word, having unique qualities of comprehensiveness, simplicity, majesty, and authority, perfectly obvious to the discerning mind. It contains what is needed for every spiritual contingency. It presents a history of the world and of each believing soul so that a sound self-diagnosis is possible. No other book like this!
8. The Bible’s simplicity and subject matter prove it is from God. It is deep enough to puzzle an unbelieving genius, and yet it speaks clearly to every truth-seeking reader. What it says pertains to all, and those who study it with the Holy Spirit’s help learn how to be saved.
9. The Bible’s majesty and authority are more evidence that God Himself is speaking by it. His self-disclosure is grand beyond comprehension, and yet we can truly begin to grasp it. All the writings of the worldly philosophers cannot compare with this amazing Book. It shakes people to their core. It strikes fear in the self-confident and comforts the most troubled.
One sentence can do more good for a poorly-educated Christian than many volumes of scholarly commentaries. Scripture’s sufficiency is utterly amazing (2 Tim 3.16–17). It forms a perfect whole, a complete summary of God’s will.
10. The second volume is the book of Creation. It declares God’s glory and works (Psa 19.1). Evidence of God’s wisdom, power, goodness, and presence appears on every hand, but unbelievers do not appreciate this as they should, not even their greatest thinkers, and so they worship the creation instead of God. They know enough from this book to aggravate their guilt but not enough to be saved. The book of Creation is read profitably by believers, even those who are not scientists. They see the work of God’s fingers in the heavens, His love in the rainbow, and His Son in the sun. Analogies between things physical and spiritual help them in true worship.
11. The book of Providence is the third volume. The same difference between believers and unbelievers in perception and benefit applies here. Only by knowing and trusting Scripture can we discern God in Providence and grow nearer Him. Only a believer beholds God reigning over all things for the good of His church and each individual Christian. The stories of Joseph and Esther and many others strengthen our confidence in God’s sovereign mercy for us. The New Testament reveals even more clearly that all power has been given to King Jesus, so that He constantly preserves and governs all His creatures and all our actions according to His wisdom.
12. Fourth and finally, God has given us the book of the Heart or Human Nature. Real wisdom comes through observing our own experiences and others in the light of Scripture. The Bible reveals a true psychology of man and that which affects us—sin, Satan, the world, and grace—when we are alone and in company, in prosperity and in affliction. Without God’s Word, people do not really even know themselves! With it, we truly realize our desperate need to be saved and how to attain eternal happiness through Christ. The Word of God discerns our innermost thoughts and intentions.
13. Whoever is well read in these four books is a wise person, even if he lacks a formal education. Without a taste for the Bible and skill to apply it to the works of creation, providence, and the human heart, even a genius knows nothing of what he should know most. This four-volume set I commend to you is worth more than all the books in the Vatican library. Newton directs us to the highest education of all. It is both accessible and affordable. We enter this school of Christ by faith, and we excel by diligence in Bible study and meditation about everything else in that light. Ω
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